Adrianne Lenker’s newest albums, songs and instrumentals, are autumnal and sweet

Adrianne Lenker, lead singer of indie folk band Big Thief , has released two new albums, out today via 4AD, titled songs and instrumentals. The entire band continues to maintain a prolific tradition: last year the group released two, full-length LPs, U.F.O.F. and Two Hands. In addition, the band’s guitarist, Buck Meek, recently announced his own solo album Two Saviors, set to release this coming January, and the band’s drummer, James Krivchenia, released A New Found Relaxation earlier this June.

Lenker’s new collection of music is as delicate and vivid as a fallen autumn leaf. As the albums’ names suggest, songs showcases Lenker’s unique vocals and tender lyricism on more traditionally structured tracks, while instrumentals is a free-wheeling set of guitar-led music, simply separated into two songs (“music for indigo” and “mostly chimes”). On both albums, deeply compelling guitar melodies combine with minimal percussion to encapsulate the sensual chill of an October breeze. On the tracks when she sings, Lenker’s lilting, airy vocals float alongside the instrumental lines perfectly.

In addition to the full release of the albums, Lenker has released a video for “zombie girl.” The video is as sweet, bare, and intimate as the song itself, simply focused on Lenker sitting crossed-legged in a cabin, cut with shots of trees and greenery.